The second Community and Oral Health (COH) Innovation Showcase embraced diversity and drive in modern health care. Presenters and awardees, Daniel Carlyle, Nurse Unit Manager, Acacia Redland Residential Care and Rebecca Pich, Nurse Manager, Metro South Health COH Safety and Quality Unit reflected on the event's significance to research and innovating health care.
"Today embraced diversity, with a wide range of presentations showcasing culturally responsive care and research studies."
“Research and quality improvement and innovation can sometimes feel bigger than where we are. It's important to realise that innovation starts from our everyday, there are opportunities wherever we are.” said Daniel.
The Showcase also hosted the COH Staff Awards with Daniel and Rebecca receiving awards for their contributions. For Daniel the award was recognition of his team’s work on the floor day in and out.
“This award will be presented to my teams to show them that we are being recognised for the hard work we do often.
“Sometimes you can feel a bit disconnected from the bigger picture when you’re focusing on the day-to-day work. This is a sign that the work that we do is being seen and appreciated.
"What we do makes a difference, no matter how small."
For Rebecca today was also a reminder in finding purpose, stating, "Find your 'why' and derive satisfaction from helping others.
“It can be on a small scale of just changing one person's day, but today was also a show of these bigger projects that can have a wider implication and help more people.”
During her conclusion speech, Lesley English Executive Director of Community and Oral Health highlighted the role of curiosity in healthcare which resonated with Rebecca.
“Curiosity is so important in improving the healthcare setting that we're in and encouraging others to be curious can have big implications for future innovations to health care.
“I am leaving the showcase inspired to encourage curiosity in my team.”
The success of the Community and Oral Health Innovation Showcase illustrates the commitment of our health care professionals in driving positive change for our service and our community.